A look back at the top read stories from the past 15 years of Second Wave

This March, Southwest Michigan's Second Wave proudly celebrated its 15th anniversary of covering news in Kalamazoo in our own way. Since its inception, we've covered a wide variety of topics and stories that matter to our readers. 

We believe and abide by the Solutions Journalism Network's mission to "transform journalism so that all people have access to news that helps them envision and build a more equitable and sustainable world."

Southwest Michigan Second Wave has covered solutions-oriented stories in Kalamazoo for 15 years. Six years ago, we expanded our Battle Creek and Calhoun County coverage, moving from occasional to always. Last year, we published 303 stories featuring people, organizations, businesses, nonprofits, and events that reached over 1.1 million readers.

At Southwest Michigan's Second Wave, we started reporting on our top stories of the year in 2013 when we took our first look back at what readers were enjoying in 2012. This story looks at the No. 1 stories from 2012 on through 2024. One of the fascinating aspects of these retrospectives was seeing how stories resonated beyond the years in which they were written.

You can also see from this collection the way we reported our best-read stories evolved over the years, too. We went from a straightforward summary of the story, or in some cases reporting just the headline, to asking our writers to reflect on their work. 

We'd like to hear what you learn from this list, what insights emerge for you, and what you are hoping will be in our coverage in the coming year.

2012
Sometimes, before you look ahead, it's useful to look at where you have been. Before we get too far into 2013, we want to take a look back at our readers' favorite stories of 2012. From digital currency to a Borgess doctor who comes from a family of inventors, and a downtown developer, our best-read stories of the year gone by often asked our favorite question: What's next?

Erik HolladayMichael Garyet holds a promo coin for the online currency bitcoinKATHY JENNINGS | THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012
1. What can you buy with bitcoins?
Michael Garyet is keeping his eyes on Bitcoins — an internet currency that's getting more and more attention from the media and entrepreneurs who are developing ways to make use of it. "It solves a lot of what could be considered the really big problems of finance," Garyet says. 
 
2013
We were surprised to see that the best-read feature story of 2013 was actually from 2012. People continue to be fascinated with the story: "What can you buy with bitcoins?" 

Of those written in 2013, stories about places to eat and drink were favorites. So were stories about good ideas that people are putting into practice, one of our favorite topics to feature in Second Wave.

KATHY JENNINGS | THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2013
1. Gonzo's BiggDogg Brewing Co. to have 8,000-square-foot brew house, plus tap house
At first, Greg "Gonzo" Haner wanted to locate his brewing company somewhere where there would not be a lot of competition. But he was advised that downtown Kalamazoo could become a craft brew mecca if he were one of those who opened up there. Now Haner and his partner have signed a lease at the former Mazda showroom at the corner of Michigan and Westnedge avenues and are preparing for a fall 2013 opening of Gonzo’s BiggDogg Brewing Company. Kevin Hyde will be the assistant brewer.

2014
Eating well and the people who help us do that proved to be the kind of story readers of Southwest Michigan's Second Wave read the most in 2014. Food or farm stories placed heavily in our Top 10 for the year.

What was the top-read feature? Second Wave has reported several comic-form stories from the talented Simon Borst. In 2014, our graphic look at the Kalamazoo Promise and those who have returned to the city after benefitting from the scholarship program for Michigan public universities or colleges was the best read of our feature stories.

Erik HolladayLa Vie en Orange owner Kori JockPeople also were interested in businesses getting on their feet, like Kori Jock's handmade underwear startup. And stories that looked at the bigger picture, like how women are changing the craft brew business, also found a following. 

And we would be remiss if we did not give a shout-out to Zinta Aistars, who wrote six of the Top 10.  

Overall, 2014 was another great year for Southwest Michigan’s Second Wave. Our readership continues to climb as more and more people find us and share our stories. (We encourage sharing!)  

1. Kalamazoo Promise Returned: In pictures and words
And the best-read story written in 2014  from our development news category was:  
Hinman attracts supermarket for natural, organic food
 
2015
Before we launch into the new year, we look back and see where we have been. Here is a list of the top stories for Second Wave Southwest Michigan from last year —15 from '15. Food and beverage proved to be favorite topics again this year, but there was an audience for our issue stories, too. These were the best-read feature stories of the year.

Susan AndessZINTA AISTARS | THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2015
1. Kalamazoo connections create Principle Food & Drink
A team with lots of Kalamazoo connections is betting that the success of Salt of the Earth can be repeated by following their principles. That's the theory behind Principle Food & Beverage. It wasn’t so much that the owners chose Kalamazoo for a second eatery, Pietsch says. "Kalamazoo chose us. We all have close connections to Kalamazoo, and we were really excited when this space opened up."

2016
In keeping with the reflective nature of the season of long nights and cold days, we take a quick look back at the stories that were reader favorites in 2016. We also had two stories from 2015 that continue to be widely read and are included in the list. For this report, we asked our writers to tell us a snippet of what they recall about the assignment. We hope you enjoy looking back at the year that was. 

KATHI VALEII | THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2016
1. Reporting methods mask the high lead levels of children in Kalamazoo's core city neighborhoods
It was alarming to learn the percentage of children who tested with elevated blood lead levels in some pockets of Kalamazoo, especially considering that the County had ended its lead intervention program in 2014, says writer Kathi Valeii.

2017
Before we plunge into 2018, it is always fun to take a look back at the previous year and see what Southwest Michigan Second Wave stories were favorites. This year, we asked the reporters who wrote them to reflect a bit on the pieces. We hope you enjoy this look at the top 10 stories of 2017. 
 
Marty Blackwell 1. THERESA COTY-O'NEIL | THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 2017
Battle Creek is ahead of the curve in addressing childhood trauma
Speaking with people behind the scenes who are not only in touch with the needs of their communities but are also dedicated to making changes that are humane and impactful was moving and inspiring.

Some of the other stories that were a big hit with readers during 2017 were written in previous years. Mark Wedel’s story on the hard-to-eradicate Japanese Knotweed has been a top-read story since it was published in 2016. His story on the Top 10 rides for bike trail enthusiasts has been a hit since it was published in July 2015. Two new development stories by managing editor Kathy Jennings also drew a lot of attention during 2017. One was about Zoetis' plans to invest in Kalamazoo and Portage. The second was about the opening of an escape room in downtown Kalamazoo as the national trend in entertainment continued to grow across the region.

2018
It’s become a tradition to take a look back at the previous year before we jump ahead with our coverage for the new year. Here is our list of the Southwest Michigan Second Wave stories that were the best read in 2018, with comments from the correspondents who wrote them. Maybe you will find one you missed that you will want to check out.
 
Photo courtesy Charlie ParkerThe Youth Basketball League, a signature program of Charlie's P.L.A.C.E., serves close to 500 youth each year.1. A Northside Icon: They call him Mr. Everything
Theresa Coty O’Neil says: As our first in-depth Northside feature, Charlie Parker was an inspiration, not only for all he has done for the Northside, but for how his spirit of giving back to the community has been passed down to his six children and a niece who serve the neighborhood and the city in so many ways.

Forever favorites
These are among the top-read stories of the year, but not written in 2018.

The Japanese Knotweed: Don't try to kill this invader on your own
This story, published in February 2016, was the best-read story of the year for three years in a row. Mark Wedel’s report on what it takes to fight the Japanese Knotweed continues to draw readers eager to find out how to treat the invasive plant that evolved to thrive on the volcanoes of Japan.

Mark WedelPortage Creek Bicentennial TrailThe top 10 rides on southwest Michigan trails
The No. 3 best-read story of the year was an even older story and also written by Mark Wedel. The avid biker — he’s even written a book on his travels by bike — offered his list of the top 10 rides on Southwest Michigan trails in July 2015. People have been reading and riding ever since. 

2019
Before we leave the last decade behind entirely, we thought we would take a look back at the stories readers loved in 2019. As has become our tradition, we asked the reporters who wrote them to reflect a bit on the pieces. We hope you enjoy this look at the top 10 stories of the year gone by. 

2. THERESA COTY O'NEIL | THURSDAY, MAY 02, 2019
Kalamazoo Eastside resident opens positive salon that models a way up the ladder
From the moment I sat down with Solomon Carpenter at Factory Coffee, I knew I had a special story on my hands. With his earnest desire to model integrity and the positive outcome of hard work to others in the neighborhood where he was raised, Solomon was honest about the pain caused by his past choices as a drug dealer. The story was easy to write because he told it so well.
 
Erick McCloudThe home of the Fire Hub and Food Pantry, a spinoff of FireKeepers Casino.1. JANE SIMONS | THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019
The Fire Hub restaurant, a casino spinoff, feeds its customers and funds food pantry
I wanted to highlight a unique concept that I hope will be replicated elsewhere. The layout of this food pantry was intentionally designed to preserve the dignity of those who are in need of its services.  This is so important in a time when more of us are working two and three jobs just to get by.
 
Bonus story
This story has been in the top 10 every year since it was published in 2016. If it had been written in 2019, it would have ranked No. 8.

Bonus The Japanese Knotweed is not to be messed with.8. MARK WEDEL | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2016
The Japanese Knotweed: Don't try to kill this invader on your own
In a month, this story will be four years old. And it’s still getting hits. So maybe this little weed is still a problem, one that we should look at again.

2020
Each year, before we forge ahead into the coming 12 months, we take a quick look back at what our readers wanted to know about the most. And though you might think, let's forget 2020 altogether, there still are interesting stories you might have forgotten about or missed in our compilation of the best-read stories of 2020. Two COVID-related stories topped the list of features written in 2020. Stories of restaurateurs opening their new spaces under less than ideal circumstances drew in readers, too. But the overall top story of the year was written in August of 2019, a recounting by Theresa Coty ONeilof the community gardeners in the Vine Neighborhood. 

A couple of other best-read features from years gone by were two written by Mark Wedel. Readers continue to seek out his story about the Top Ten rides on Southwest Michigan trails from 2015 and why you should leave the Japanese Knotweed alone from 2016. 

Our reporters comment on the stories that made the list. 

 AL JONES | MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020
1. A few things they don’t tell you about recovering from COVID-19
Men are supposed to take care of the people around them, not the other way around. But COVID-19 made a whiner out of me.  

Courtesy of the Wilder Family“I thought it was the flu,” says Michael Wilder, shown just after symptoms of COVID-19 set in late March.AL JONES | FRIDAY, MAY 8, 20202. 'I thought it was the flu,' Kalamazoo survivor says as COVID-19 strikes blacks at high rates
The talk at the barbershop was about COVID-19 and what it's like to have it. And while authorities said the virus is disproportionately affecting African-Americans, few Blacks were saying much. Until my barber said, "I know a guy." And that guy was happy to share his story.

2021
It’s become Southwest Michigan’s Second Wave’s tradition to take a quick look back at the stories that were reader favorites in the year just past before we move fully into the year ahead. We ask our writers to tell us a snippet of what they recall about the assignment, a bit of behind-the-scenes. If you simply want to forget 2021, we get it. At the same time, there were lots of stories of people making their communities better places to live. Here are a few of them.

JANE SIMONS | WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2021 
1. As Native American women go missing and are murdered, who is keeping track?
No one knows exactly how many Native American women go missing and are murdered. That was what I learned as I interviewed tribal members for this story.  The reason:  organizations including the United States Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation haven’t kept an accurate count and also have not investigated numerous cases involving Native American women who have been reported Moptimistic that this lack of reporting and accountability will change with Deb Haaland, the first Native American to lead the U.S. Department of the Interior, who has committed to ensuring that these cases get the same attention as those involving White women. This story gained additional traction after the murder of Gabby Petito and the major national and international coverage that ensued, which really highlighted the disparities in coverage based on race.

2022
This is a roundup of the best-read features of 2022. A few notes before we launch into the list. The best-read story of the year for this online publication was not a feature but a news brief about Woods Lake Square, a new retail and office center that will make use of a prominent but vacant corner at Oakland Drive and Parkview Avenue and the first new commercial construction in the Woods Lake area in many years.

In the top-read feature stories of the 2022 there also were two originally published in previous years. Now that we have that clarified, please check out what our local team has to say about the most-read stories of the year.

1. Stadium Drive construction begins as Kalamazoo moves to slow traffic and create complete streets
"On a late-February Saturday, I parked at WMU and walked Stadium Drive, to get photos," Correspondent Mark Wedel says. "I flashed back to when I was a student, my crappy car useless, needing to ride my bike to get from where I lived in the Vine neighborhood to classes. Stadium felt that Saturday as it felt when I was a biking student -- openly hostile to anyone not in a motor vehicle. No sidewalk, the road designed as if a state highway in the country, drivers speeding a few feet away as I crunched along on the snow-covered shoulder. Hopefully, the final result of the redesign will lead to slower traffic, and a pedestrian/biking connection between WMU, the city, and neighborhoods."
 
1. Banking, retail, and office center will reuse prominent spot near Kalamazoo’s Woods Lake
The best-read story of the year for this online publication was a new item about Woods Lake Square, a new retail and office center that will make use of a prominent but vacant corner at Oakland Drive and Parkview Avenue and the first new commercial construction in the Woods Lake area in many years.

2023
The top-read story of 2023 was written in 2019 as readers rediscovered it or read it for the first time. 

John GrapAnita Snell makes a dipped cone.Three generations of same family has served several generations of neighbors at corner Dairy Queen 
Customers of the last remaining Dairy Queen in Battle Creek are chill for all the right reasons, says Yvonne Powell, a resident of the Post-Franklin Neighborhood, which is home to the ice cream shop.
 Jehovah’s Witnesses have been holding public conventions in large venues around the world for more than 100 years, but Southwest Michigan was never among the locations until now. … The gathering is expected to bring in people representing 80 Jehovah’s Witness congregations from Fort Wayne, Ind., to Muskegon, says Joe Mosher, who lives in Grand Rapids and is a local spokesperson for the Jehovah’s Witness. Michigan is home to around 40,000 Jehovah's Witnesses, says Mosher

 MARK WEDEL | THURSDAY, FEBUARY 23, 2023
2. Kalamazoo's new Dabney and Co. is a Black culture bar that welcomes all
Everyone is welcome at Dabney and Co., the new bar at Kalamazoo Avenue and North Rose Street. The bartenders greeted us the moment we opened the door. We were led to a table, low, round, with the classic hurricane candle, with chairs that practically demand you just sink down, sit back, relax. 
Fran DwightDabney & Co. is divided into two, with music in the dining room playing to people at tables, and the bar on the other side of a brick wall.
2024
Conscientious, deep-diving journalism helps foster a sense of goodwill and community. And we're proud to be a trusted source of local news by local people who love where they live.

Our writers and photographers are curious people who are committed to getting the story 'right.' When they take on an assignment, they never quite know what to expect. That insatiable curiosity is part of what feeds the reporter's spirit.  Today we republish stories of 2024 that our talented team of writers shared have had a significant impact on them as they review their year's work. Coincidentally, three of those stories were published on the same day — August 8, 2024.  

MARK WEDEL | THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2024
South Bend's MLK Boulevard before two-way conversion1. A tale of two cities: South Bend has been where Kalamazoo is now and the future is promising
KALAMAZOO, MI —  We've heard a lot of this before from the Kalamazoo's city planners and traffic engineers. 

Wide, multi-lane, high-speed, one-way roads through downtown have to be changed to two-way city streets, with traffic-calming elements. The city's downtown needs a major change, not just for the safety and benefit of pedestrians and bicyclists, but to improve business and make downtown a place people want to live, work, and play. 

Eight years ago, city planners in South Bend, Indiana, were saying the same things.

Those reasons for making a big change to South Bend's downtown streets are all in the past now — because most of the change has already happened, beginning over seven years ago. 

Two midwestern cities of similar sizes responded to similar circumstances and visions.

In 2024, South Bend will have completed much of the street work that Kalamazoo is just beginning. One could say that South Bend exists as a prototype of Kalamazoo's near future.